Somerset pot dispensary eyes August zoning approval

Monday

A proposed medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation facility passed another checkpoint toward a multi-million operation that could reap at least $500,000 in annual taxes for the town.

SOMERSET — A proposed medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation facility passed another checkpoint toward a multi-million operation that could reap at least $500,000 in annual taxes for the town.

Solar Therapeutics Inc. officials held a required public hearing Friday afternoon to air the first and second stages of its plans to rebuild and convert the commercial building at 1400 Brayton Point Road on 6.7 acres for that use.

CEO Edward Dow III reiterated plans for a $7 million investment initially and an equal amount in the second stage when the existing building would be added onto for a total of 74,500 square feet of space in the industrial district special town meeting voters rezoned in March.

They’re estimating up to 30 employees in the first stage and a total of 60 when the project is completed, according to attorney Tom Killoran, representing property owner Brayton Point Realty.

Solar Therapeutics has a 25-year lease option with the realty company headed by Ronald Raposa and an option to buy after five years.

This hearing is required by the state Cannabis Control Commission as a condition of licensing, Dow said. It precedes Solar Therapeutics’ second review before the Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals.

After an initial ZBA hearing on July 19, the applicant is scheduled to return Aug. 16 seeking plan development approval and a special permit required to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in this industrial zone, Killoran said.

To obtain building permits and begin construction also requires waiting past the 20-day appeals period.

“We would like to begin construction in mid-September,” Killoran said after the half-hour hearing at which just one resident attended and spoke with the developers.

He said an emphasis would be placed on using local contractors and hiring local residents as listed in the host agreement Solar Therapeutics signed with town officials after the special town meeting approved the rezoning.

That vote was 159-55 with 150 votes or a two-thirds majority needed to change this zoning district.

The Planning Board had recommended the rezoning from commercial to industrial to allow for a medical marijuana dispensary.

In this building that’s had modest occupancy for years, Killoran said the first phase would be to reconstruct about 40,000 square feet of the 66,000 square-foot metal fabrication building.

He said the dispensary and growing area would all be “internal to the building.”

The lawyer noted that during construction and for a period afterwards, Community Connections Inc., a regional network working with disabled adults, would remain in the rear area.

They would later locate for the second phase, Killoran said.

Two athletic-related organizations have also used the property for about four years.

One, In the Zone Baseball Club, was moving out June 1 when its lease expired, according to a letter in May by the owners, Ron and Ryan Westmoreland, on their baseball training website.

They established the baseball and softball training school in Fall River in 2009 and renovated the Brayton Point Road quarters in 2014, their letter said. They said future plans were, regrettably, uncertain.

A staff person of Infinite Fitness, which has about 150 members of different ages practicing various forms of fitness and nutrition, said they are in the process of relocating. The person gave no further details.

Several officials represented the town at the hearing. Tim Turner, Planning Board member and health agent, Building Commissioner Paul Boucher and Selectmen Chairwoman Holly McNamara all said they believed the marijuana dispensary project would greatly help the town’s finances with minimal negative impacts.

“I’m looking forward to having them here as part of Somerset,” McNamara said. She said the principles were reputable and very professional.

Among those attending the hearing were medical and security staff.

McNamara noted as part of the first phase of building Community Connections would be able to remain during the upcoming year. She encouraged any citizens with questions to reach out to her.

Email Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com or call him at 508-676-2573.

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